Fluid pressure power actuator



March 5 1940. Ry R, GUNDERSQN 2,192,548

l FLUID PRESSURE POWER ACTUATOR F'iled Dec. 3. 1957 INVNTOR.` yNG/ensofpy ma/W I v l ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 5, 1940 UNITED 'STATES PATENT .OFFICE LUID APRESSURE l POWER ACTUATOR Ralph R. Gunderson, Los Angeles, Calif., as-

signor to- Vacuum Power Brake Company, Los' Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application December 3, 1937, Serial No. 177,880

the vehicle'upon which the device is installed.

Actuators of this general type are commonly employed on heavy vehicles such as large automobile trucks and trailers continuously operated in carrying'great loads, and in this service, brake actuators are subjected to unusually severe conditions both because of the Vheavy loads applied and because of the frequency with which the device is operated. The importance of having an actuator i'n Vsuch`- a system which is dependable and of long'life cannot be over-emphasized, for the failure of a brake actuator may result in a heavily loaded truck running wild'and causing 20 great loss of life and damage'tol property. In spite of its urgency, however,.the making of a dependable power actuator, free from the possibility of early fatigue failure, has heretofore persistently remained a problem. Y v v 35 An object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a power actuator having special provision against fatigue failure, both of the nexible diaphragm portion and of the housing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a power actuator. of such construction that a particularly eiiicient operation of the device re-v sults.

vide, in a power actuator, means for preventing 35 collapse of the diaphragm while not restricting its motion. within the housing. Y

These and other apparent objects I attain in a manner which 'will be clear from consideration of thefollowing description takenjin connection with the accompanying drawing, o'f which:

Fig. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view taken in a plane through the axis of the power actuator.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the device taken from the left side of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrow 2, as shown. Y

Fig. 3 isan end view of the device taken from the right side of Fig. 1 in the direction. of the arrow, as shown. j

My improved booster includes a housing Il. preferably composedv of two opposed" concave members II and I2 which when united form a` substantially cylindrical space within. The

members II and I2 ofthe housing areprovided.

;,. with o-nanges I3 and I4, respectiv`ely,

serves to translate fluid pressure into mechanical force which is exerted to apply the brakes ofv 'I6 being retained between and serving as a Still another-object of myinvention is to pro-' having edges turned at right angles for reinforcement, as at I5. Between the flanges I3 and-` I4 is clamped the fiat rim I6 of a flexible diaphragm hereinafterdescribed in detail, whichV 5 separates the space within the housing into two chambers, A and B. Through theflanges I3 and Il and the interposed diaphragm I6 are a number of-bolts I1 which tightly-clamp the two hous. ing members II and I2 together, the diaphragm lo gasket to make an air-tight seal with bth halves. of the housing. The housing member I I extends from the flange I3 in a direction only slightly inclined 11d the'axial direction, thenbends sharply at I8 in a nearly radial direction and finally ends in a substantially radially-'extending at end I 9 immediately surrounding the axis. Through an A axial hole in the end I9- is placed a tting 20 m provided with a fluid passage therethrough and internally threaded to receive a pipe 2| through I' whichair is exhausted'from or int'o the cham-A ber Ainthe normal operation of the device. The

Vfitting 20 has a shoulder which abuts the end 25 I! -on the outside, and is externally threaded on vthe other endto receive Va nut 22 which is screwed thereon to tightly `clamp the end I9 through the washer 23 to eifect an air-tight seal.

The shape of the other half I2 of the housing -430 isl preferably substantially the same as` that -de scribed above in connection with housing member II, with the exception that an axial hole 24 is left opento the atmosphere to permit air to enter chamber B and force the flexible dia- 35 f phragm toward the left side of the housing when air is exhausted fromchamber A- through pipe 2 I, and with the further exception'that` means, for mounting the housing of the power actuator and special reinforcement are provided on the o v endof member I2, as will hereinafter be explained. The members II and I2 of the housingarepreferably made of sheet metal and the shape of. the housing may be said to be nearly cylindrical'. 45

t The nenne diaphragm, thenceman;V nr,

which is clamped between the flanges and Il,

'is concave with respect to the chamber/A on its left in Fig. 1, and is preferably molded of rubber. Thediaphragm comprises a nearly radial 50 but dished end portion 26 of somewhat less diameter than that of the housing, a flat rim I6, and a cylindrical portion '21, connecting end 26 with rim I6. In the operation of the device, when air is exhausted through pipe 2|, the diaphragm l2l 65 is acted upon to move the nearly radial end portion 26 far past the plane of the rim I6 and nearly down to the opposite end of the housing.

'I'his requires that the diaphragm deect considerably in that portion near the middle of the housing. I have found that if the diaphragm is so shaped that most of the deflection takes place at the point where the diaphragm is clamped, at 30, it will quickly fatigue and fail at this., point. I have found, however, that when the diaphragm is constructed as shown herein, it does not easily fatigue and has a very long and entirely satisfactory life. Important features of the shape which result in such satisfactory operation are that the fiat rim I6 extends inwardly a considerable distance from the wall of the housing before bending at 3| to conform to the cylindrical portion 21, and that the right angle bend at 3| is very gentle, the radius of curvature of this curve being relatively great. These features insure that the deflection of the diaphragm in the region of rim I 6 and the bend 3| shall be gentle and uniform and at no place sharper than is consistent with long life of the diaphragm. The substantially cylindrical shape of the major portion of the diaphragm, moreover, is found, to contribute to uniformity of force exerted by the device throughout its entire stroke.V

The nearly radial end portion 26, which is acted upon by air pressurefto move the diaphragm, is supported on its inner face by a rigid dished circular plate'32 of the same diameter. A circular plate or washer tion 25 on its outer side. The plate 32, diaphragm end 2S, and plate 33 may all be clamped together on an axial rod 34 by the nuts 35 and 36 which are screwed on the rod 34. 'I'he rod 34 passes out of the housing through the hole 24 and connects to the brake mechanism (not shown), the hole 24 being sufficiently large to permit entrance of the nut 36 and to provide ample clearance therearound to permit the rapid passage of air through the hole 24 into chamber B.

To prevent collapse of the cylindrical portion 21 of the diaphragm when air is exhausted from chamber A and the radial end 26 has moved to the left, I provide a support within the diaphragm comprising a spirally wound resilient wire 31 forming a loosely wound coil having an outside diameter nearly equal to the inner diameter of cylindrical portion 21' of the diaphragm. One end of this coil is fastened at 33 to the plate 32 and the other end of the coil is brought around and fastened at 39 to the adjacent turn of wire. This construction provides many advantages. It maintains the portion 21 always in a substantially cylindrical shape throughout the entire stroke of the diaphragm, thus preventing sharp bending of the diaphragm at edge of plate 32 and insuring its long and satisfactory operation. At the same time, the Supporting structure is flexible and will permit slight tipping and lateral adjustment of the rod 34 without seriously affecting the operation 4of the diaphragm. Another important advantage is that because of the axial compressibility of the supporting coil 31, a relatively long stroke of the diaphragm is permitted.

In moving toward the left, the coil 31 Will eventu .the-` coil 31, the turns occupy only a short space,

which means that practically the' entire length of the housing is available for the stroke of the 33 supports the diaphragm pordiaphragm. It should be noted that if a rigid supporting member were employed within the diaphragm to prevent its collapse, such a member would limit .the stroke of the diaphragm in its leftward movement by abutting the end of housing member II, and the stroke of the diaphragm would be much less than is possible with .my construction. A further advantage is that the orderly travel and uniform shape of the diaphragm resulting from supporting it from within increase the emciency of the device.

On the end of member I2, I provide means for mounting the housing and for reinforcing the housing at this point where large stresses are set up. Against the inside of the fiat end of member I2 is placed a washer 40. Over the outside of the end of housing member I2 is placed a reinforcing plate of sheet metal-4I which covers a large portion of the end of said member and is preferably Spot welded thereto at a number of places as at 42. The bolts 43 and 44 pass through holes in the washer 40, member" I2, and plate 4I, and are riveted as at 45 to tightly clamp washer 40 and member I2 together and to attach the bolts to the housing. These bolts are used to mount the housing of the actuator on the frame of a vehicle in the brake system of which the actuator is connected. The particular arrangement of re- Atmospheric pressure in chamber B then causes the diaphragm to be moved t0 the vleft against the reduced pressure on its left side. As the diaphragm moves, there is no dangerously sharp bend in it because of the flat rim I6 .extendinginwardly from the housing and because of the gentle curvature of the right-angled bend at 3|. The diaphragm does not collapse at any stage in its travel because of the supporting coil 31 within. Themotion of the diaphragm may continue toward the left until the turns of the coil 31 are tightly pressed together with the forward turn abutting the .end of housing member II. As the diaphragm! moves to the left it carries with itt the rod 34 which acts to apply the brakes. The distance the diaphragm moves is determined by the amount of the reduction-in pressure in chamber A, togetehr with the resistance offered by application of the brakes.

With a'pressure less than atmospheric in chamber A, it is' evident `that there is an unbalanced force on the housing member |I directed toward the right due to the diierence in pressure on the two, sides of the housing member II. This force is communicated to the housing member I2 and is absorbed in the reaction of the vehicle frame. The plate 4| thus reinforces the housing member I2 against the rightwardly-directed force exerted on its outer edge. It is very important that reinforcement of this nature be provided, for other- Wise the frequent operation of the actuator would result in eariyfatigue failure of the housing member I2 near the place of mounting. This construction makes possible the useof a relatively cheap sheet metal housing by providing adequate reinforcement only at the points where failure would otherwise occur.

Whereas I have described mypower actuator as applied in the application of vehicle brakes.'

the device is not so limited but may be employed cave with respect to one of said chambers, a

rigid support rforthe diaphragm at the end of and within the concavity thus-formed, a spirally wound resilient coil within said concavity for supporting said diaphragm, one end of said coil being attached to said rigid support and adjacent turns of the other end of said coil being joined. .5

2. In combination, a housing, a exible diaphragm separating the space within said housing into two chambers, saiddiaphragm having a substantially cylindrical portion concave with respect to one of said chambers, a rigid support for the diaphragm at the end of and within the concavity thus formed, a spirally wound resilient coil within said concavlty for supporting said diaphragm, one end of said coil being attached to said rigid support, and a rod attached to said diaphragm and to said rigid support and extending movably through said housing.

3. In combination, a housing, a flexible diaphragm separating said housing into two chambers, said diaphragm having a substantially cylindrical portion concave to one of said chambers and of less diameter than the housing, and said diaphragm having a fiat rim .extending in- 'wardly from the junction with said housing and meeting said substantially cylindrical portion in ra curve of' relatively large radius, whereby sharp bending of said diaphragm due to axial motion thereof is avoided, and a coil spring carried by said diaphragm inside the cylindrical portion thereof to support it fromr collap.

4..In combination, .a housing comprising two jmembers, :a flexible diaphragm having` a substantially cylindrical concave portion and a dat rim, said iiat rim being clamped between said housing members and extending inwardly from the` housing, said rimand said substantially cylindrical portion meetingin. a gentle curve of relatively .large radius. whereby sharp bending or the diaphragm due to axialmotion thereofis avoided,'and a by laid lia` flexible diaphragm in saidhousing comprising a phragm inside the cylindrical portion thereof to' support it'irom collapse.

5. In combination, a housing comprising two members, a exible diaphragm having a silb-4 stantially cylindrical concave portion and a flat 5 rim.. said flat rim being clamped between said housing members and extending inwardly from the housing and meeting said substantially 'cylindrical portion in a gentle curve of relatively large radius, a rigid support for the diaphragm at the end of and within the concave. portion,

a spirally wound resilient coil within the substantially cylindrical concave portion for supporting the diaphragm, one end of said coil being attached to said rigid support and adjacent turns of the other end of said coil being joined, and a member connected to said diaphragm and extending movably through the housing.

6. In combination, a housing comprising two opposed concave sheet metal members, a ilexible 20 diaphragmv having a substantially cylindrical concave portion and a hat rim, .said at rim being clamped between said housing. members" and extending inwardly from the housing and meeting said substantially cylindrical portion in 86 a gentle curve of relatively large radius, a rigid support for the diaphragm at the end of and within the concave portion, a spirally wound. resilient coil within the substantially cylindrical @concave portion `for supportingthe diaphragm, a0

a rod attached to said diaphragm and to said rigid support and extending movably through one of said housing members. means on the end 'of said last-mentioned .housing member for mounting the housing, and a plate attached to 85 the outside of said last-mentioned housing member for reinforcing said end against force on the housing. directed axially toward said end.

'1. In a iluid pressure power actuator the combination of: a generally cylindrical housing: a

nearly radial end portion, a iiat rim and a cylindrical Aportion connecting said rim and said end, said rim being clamped around its outer -edge t0 said 1101.181118. said diaphragm 'being freely movable in said housing, so that said end portion maytravelaxially from one end-oi.' saidfhousing to theother: and a coil spring carried the cylindrical portion of said diaphragm for wportins the same against collapse.

48.Anactuil.tora.sdeilnedinclaim'tirhicla includesaplateheldasainsttheinside'otthe endportionofsaidmneendotsaid springbeingiastenedtosaidplate.

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